Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

t_hah · Aug 20, 2004, 04:38 PM

The software takes forever to start up, and it browses PDFs even slower. What is up with it? Is it really so hard to create a PDF browser that can handle documents quickly? Preview loads up in no time compared to Acrobat, and browses the files faster too.

Any recommendations on how to kick Acrobat's a$$ and get it going?

wataru · Aug 20, 2004, 08:31 PM

Um, don't use it? It's slow. Period. If you want to speed it up, get a faster computer or get a job at Adobe.

Maflynn · Aug 20, 2004, 08:55 PM

The thing is a pig, but not just on Macs, though its more acute. acrobat 6.0 is slow on a peecee too.

I guess that's what happens when you throw everyhting in including the kitchen sink. that app is soo bloated it can't do anyhting but give you the spinning beachball of death.

Mike

madmacgames · Aug 20, 2004, 10:33 PM

speed is relative. It is only "slow" because you are comparing it to preview in 10.3, which is "fast" in comparison. However, in 10.2 rendering PDFs in preview is also "slow" by comparison to 10.3 and "about the same" as acrobat.

t_hah · Aug 21, 2004, 12:03 AM

Yeah, it is obvious that the things is loaded with everything that one needs and even more that they don't. So I guess there is really no way to make this faster...I was hoping...oh, well.

workerbee · Aug 21, 2004, 04:35 AM

Well, 6.0.2 isn't too bad -- if you think this is slow, you should have tried 6.0!
Startup is slow because Acrobat loads umpteen plug-ins (see the Acrobat -> About plug-ins menu). Definitely bloatware.

Cadaver · Aug 21, 2004, 10:42 AM

Yep. Acrobat is slow. 10.3's Preview on my 12" PowerBook is faster than Acrobat on my AthlonXP PC that outclocks the PowerBook two to one.

Maflynn · Aug 21, 2004, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by madmacgames:
speed is relative. It is only "slow" because you are comparing it to preview in 10.3,

6.0 is slow, even on my G5 - the splash screen just sits there as it loads. I noticed from another poster that 6.0.2 is out, I'll give that a try myself - also as I mentioned its slow on the peecee just not as bad as the mac's version

ja · Aug 22, 2004, 02:44 PM

DO NOT BUY ACROBAT

I have already wasted enough of my money on it

use Preview and then do a search for 'PDF' at MacUpdate
there is some truly wonderful shareware and freeware out there

On a day-to-day basis I just could not do without Combine PDFs or PDF Browser Plugin for eg

PDFpen and PDFshrink are also promising

ja · Aug 22, 2004, 02:48 PM

and I should also add, if it is more relevant to this thread -- do not bother with [the 'free'] Adobe Reader either -- it is a waste of bandwidth to download

.. sorry, I feel quite strongly about crappy bloatware especially when it has hit my pocket

really, you can do great things with simple tools

voodoo · Aug 22, 2004, 03:00 PM

Originally posted by ja:
and I should also add, if it is more relevant to this thread -- do not bother with [the 'free'] Adobe Reader either -- it is a waste of bandwidth to download

.. sorry, I feel quite strongly about crappy bloatware especially when it has hit my pocket

really, you can do great things with simple tools

Cadaver · Aug 22, 2004, 03:33 PM

Originally posted by ja:
and I should also add, if it is more relevant to this thread -- do not bother with [the 'free'] Adobe Reader either -- it is a waste of bandwidth to download

.. sorry, I feel quite strongly about crappy bloatware especially when it has hit my pocket

really, you can do great things with simple tools

I also agree 100%. Its too bad that its really the only choice when it comes to professional pre-press PDF layout.
Fortunately, I don't have to worry about that